Sociology 132: Methods of Social Research

Duke University-Spring 2000


MWF 10:30-11:20
Room 229 Social Sciences Building

Professor Mary Elizabeth Hughes
Office: Soc/Psych 338
Phone: 660-5737
E-mail: mehughes@soc.duke.edu
Office Hours: Friday 11:30-1:30 and by appointment

TA Suzanne Strulowitz
Office: Soc/Psych 142
Phone: 660-5603
E-mail: sstru@soc.duke.edu
Office Hours: TBA

Course Content and Objectives

This course introduces the process of social research. You will learn both the logic that underlies social inquiry and the specific procedures used by social researchers, with a particular emphasis on quantitative analysis of survey data. By the end of the course you should have a working knowledge of 1) the purposes of social research; 2) the fundamental assumptions and approaches of social research; 3) the types of observation and measurement used by social scientists; 4) how social scientists go about structuring quantitative research inquiries; 5) the analytical tools used by quantitative social scientists, including basic computer and statistical skills; 6) how to present research findings in a written report.

Format & Requirements

The core of the material presented is found in the text, The Practice of Social Research (Babbie, 1998), which is available in the bookstore. You are expected to read the assigned chapters prior to class. Lectures will clarify, emphasize, and supplement the text. I welcome and encourage questions during lectures. For the fifth class session, you will be required to read an article from a research journal. Instructions about how to access the article on the Web will be distributed.

In addition to the assigned reading, you will do four types of assignments. These assignments are intended to give you hands-on experience with the logic and procedures of social research. First, you will divide into small groups during class sessions and work on problems that apply concepts from the reading and lectures. Second, you will each hand in a written answer to each group problem. These will be due one week after the in-class group session. Third, there will be in-class computer applications in which you will be expected to carry out, with guidance, basic analyses on a topic of your choice using data from the 1980 and 1990 General Social Survey (GSS). Finally, you will write a research report based on your analysis of the GSS data.

Interactive Computer Classroom (ICC)

This semester we are fortunate to be holding class in the brand-new Interactive Computer Classroom. This is a tremendous advantage for you. Computers have transformed social science research; having computers in the classroom will give you a full understanding of their role in research and enhance your understanding of the research process overall. We will use the computers in two ways. First, I will use the instructor's computer, which has a screen that can be projected, to illustrate points during lectures. Second, the last six weeks of the semester will be devoted to computer application sessions in which you carry out your own research project.

Students have done computer applications for this class in the past, but the ICC eliminates many of the logistical difficulties that students and professors used to encounter in the process. I expect that the result of the improved environment will be a more in-depth learning experience for you. However, since this is the first year the classroom has been used, we may encounter a few problems. I therefore ask for the patience and cooperation of all students as we work out the best ways to use the classroom for this course. Anyone with constructive feedback about the ICC should tell me and I will pass their comments along.

Procedures

Because this course includes several types of class sessions (lectures, small groups, computer applications) and four sets of assignments, the logistical details can be complicated. The following pages contain a detailed course schedule; please refer to this regularly.

You may form your own small groups; they should have 4-6 members and must stay the same for the duration of the course. During the small group sessions, the TA and I will circulate to answer questions and monitor progress.

Written versions of the group problems will be due in class one week after the class session in which they were initiated. The only exceptions to this rule will be made for religious holidays, illness, or sports events. However, I realize that computers fail, printers jam, students oversleep, other classes have requirements, etc. Therefore I will accept assignments until 2:00 the day they are due. Dates of the group sessions and due dates for the written assignments are listed on the attached course schedule.

The analysis for the research report will be completed in class; therefore attendance at these class sessions is mandatory. Makeup labs will be scheduled for those who missed a session due to religious holiday, illness or sports event. The TA will not hold individual lab consultations for those who missed a session.

The final papers will be due in my mailbox in the Sociology Department at the time allotted for the final -- 12:00 Noon Friday May 5 2000. No extensions will be granted.

Do not hesitate to come by during my office hours should you have questions. E-mail or call me for an appointment if you cannot make it to my office hours. Questions regarding course policy and grading should be directed to me, not to the TA.

Grading

Grades will be awarded on a point system. Each written assignment is worth 5 points (for a total of 40 points); the research report is worth 50 points (2 points for write-up of your research topic, 4 points for an annotated bibliography, 4 points for a write-up of your recoding scheme, and 40 points for the actual research report); and class participation, by which I mean reading assigned material on time, attending lectures, participating in group sessions, and completing computer applications, is worth 10 points. Students should note that because of the intensive and cumulative nature of the class material, attendance is critical. We will therefore take attendance, which will figure heavily into your participation points. Students with excused absences will not be penalized; however they are responsible for making up the material in a timely manner.

Course Schedule



DATE CLASS TOPIC READINGS DUE
Wed January 12 Introduction
Fri January 14 Scientific Inquiry Babbie Chapter 1
Mon January 17 NO CLASS - MLK DAY
Wed January 19 The Role of Theory Babbie Chapter 2
Fri January 21 Group Problem 1
Mon January 24 Research Example TBA
Wed January 26 Principles of Causation Babbie Chapter 3
Fri January 28 Group Problem 2 Written Assignment 1
Mon January 31 Modes of Research
Wed February 2 Field Research Babbie Chapter 11
Fri February 4 Experiments, Part 1 Babbie Chapter 9 Written Assignment 2
Mon February 7 Experiments, Part 2
Wed February 9 Group Problem 3
Fri February 11 Overview of Survey Research
Introduction to Statistical Control
Mon February 14 The Research Process
Requirements for Research Report
The General Social Survey		 Research Report Materials
GSS Materials
Wed February 16 Types of Surveys Babbie Chapter 10, & pages A139-A144 Written Assignment 3
Fri February 18 Group Problem 4
Mon February 21 Time Frame & Units of Analysis Babbie Chapter 4
Wed February 23 Group Problem 5
Fri February 25 The Logic of Sampling Babbie Chapter 8 Written Assignment 4
Mon February 28 Group Problem 6 Report Topic
Wed March 1 Conceptualization and Measurement Babbie Chapter 5 Written Assignment 5
Fri March 3 Operationalization
Reliability & Validity		 Babbie Chapter 6
Monday March 6 Group Problem 7 Written Assignment 6
Wed March 8 Scales
Measures of Association		 Babbie Chapter 7
Friday March 10 Group Problem 8
Mon March 13
Wed March 15
Fri March 17		 NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK
Mon March 20 Guidelines for Literature Reviews Written Assignment 7
Wed March 22
Fri March 24		 NO CLASS-ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE POPULATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA-USE TIME TO WORK ON BIBLIOGRAPHIES
Mon March 27 Introduction to Quantitative Analysis

Stata Basics

 Babbie, Chapter 14 Written Assignment 8
Wed March 29 Lecture-Demonstration:

Descriptive Statistics

 Babbie Chapter 15
Fri March 31 Computer Application: Descriptive Statistics Annotated Bibliography
Mon April 3 Computer Application: Descriptive Statistics
Wed April 5 Lecture-Demonstration:
Recoding Variables
Fri April 7 Computer Application: Recoding Variables Recoding Plan
Mon April 10 Computer Application: Recoding Variables
Wed April 12 Lecture-Demonstration:
Bivariate and Multivariate Analysis		 Babbie Chapter 17
Fri April 14 Computer Application:
Bivar & Multivar Analysis
Mon April 17 Computer Application:
Bivar & Multivar Analysis
Wed April 19 Lecture-Demonstration:
Statistical Significance and Reading Output
Fri April 21 Lecture-Demonstration:
Interpreting Results, The Elaboration Model Part 1		 Babbie Chapter 16
Mon April 24 Lecture-Demonstration:
Interpreting Results, The Elaboration Model Part 2
Wed April 26 Individual Consultations
Fri May 5
12 Noon		 RESEARCH REPORT